The copper cable that currently transmits internet data could be cut-off as fibre optic broadband rolls out more widely in the UK.
Currently, around 20 million households with phone and internet connections rely on the older copper cabling to stay connected.
Chancellor Philip Hammond has said that a switch-off date for copper cables would be set.
An HM Treasury spokesman has said that the target is to have all UK homes and businesses connected to world-leading full fibre broadband by 2033.
This comes as a National Infrastructure Commission report said the copper wires currently in use could be cut-off within seven years.
“The Commission’s judgement is that a national full fibre rollout programme should be put in place,” said the report.
“This will provide fast, reliable broadband, improve connectivity in rural areas, and support 4G and 5G mobile coverage. However, it will take at least a decade to build.”
While faster internet is a positive outcome, Clive Selley, chief executive at OpenReach, claims the switch from copper to fibre could cost around £60 per year on bills.
This news comes today as Vodafone announce it has just begun rolling out its 1 gigabit per second broadband to residents in Milton Keynes.
This means speeds of up to 1,000Mbps which is around 20 times faster than the national average of 46.2MB, claims Vodafone.
The Vodafone Gigafast Broadband is being tested in the homes of 50 families in Milton Keynes before it rolls out to the wider city.
Upload speeds should also be fast. Vodafone says a person uploading 16GB of holiday photos will do so in two minutes as opposed to the national average of five hours and 44 minutes.
The idea with super-fast broadband is to make sure multiple devices can use the internet at once for high-quality 4K video streaming, online virtual reality gaming and more all while connected smart home gadgets also use the same connection.
Virgin Media is also offering high-speed fibre broadband across the UK and features in our guide which shows you how to get fast and cheap broadband in the UK in 2018.